Eyecatching news items and thoughts of those whose eye was caught
Note: In reading some of these items, it seems my tone might be perceived as one of pontification. That's not my intent. This is my space, these are my opinions and anyone is free to disagree.
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Halle Berry is trying to reduce the child support she pays to the father of her child. She supposedly says, "There is no case, no law, no logic that says a healthy, active man gets to simply live off child support that the wealthier mother earns." Reporter's note: Most of the single mothers I've known in my life didn't get nearly enough support from the fathers of their kids. However, that didn't stop the single moms of very well-to-do fathers from enjoying a nice lifestyle while receiving child support. Ms Berry is nowhere near as wealthy as Kirk Kerkorian but he was paying $100,000 per month in child support to a woman who admitted he wasn't the real father. Kerkorian's ex-wife is a former tennis pro who once reached the top ten in rankings. She's "only" 50 and fits the definition of "...healthy, active..." Charlie Sheen pays Brooke Mueller $55,000 per month and she's perfectly capable of working when she isn't busy snorting cocaine. Denise Richards makes good money and still pockets $50,000 per month of Charlie's money for child support. That's why I don't have much sympathy for Ms Berry. If it was good enough for decades for wealthy men to be milked for child support, sauce for the gander is sauce for the goose. The bottom line is, if you want to avoid any possibility of paying child support, use an infallible method of birth control.
Brittany Maynard, whose decision to end her own life to avoid the ravages of an inoperable brain tumor that would kill in a few months, has died. She took her own life on Saturday night as scheduled, after having released a statement that she wasn't sure she was ready to go. Ms Maynard had moved to Oregon with her husband to take advantage of that state's Death With Dignity law. Reporter's note: Every state should have such a law, with provisions requiring that medical professionals ensure that the individual's condition is irreversible and either terminal or involves such agony as to remove any possible quality of life.
Then there is the story of Lauryn Hill. The 19 year old also has an inoperable brain tumor and her doctors do not expect her to survive to the end of this year. Now she has realized her dream of playing college basketball. It took NCAA permission to move up the opening home game of her Mount St. Joseph College team. Then her team ran a special play designed to give her a layup opportunity and she sank it. Reporter's note: A heartwarming example of someone facing the end of their life with a positive attitude and trying to do something to prevent others from becoming ill with the same type of tumor.
With the approach of Tuesday's elections, training for those who will be working the polls was conducted in Los Angeles County on Sunday. Reporter's note: The people who work at the polls are a vital cog in the election process. Their thankless work deserves more respect, and voters at the polls should not berate or belittle these paid volunteers.
The United States Supreme Court will hear arguments on Monday in a case that seems surprisingly silly. A 12 year old named Menachem Zivotofsky wants his U. S. passport to state that his place of birth is Jerusalem, Israel. There is a U. S. law that mandates his request should be granted by the State Department, which runs counter to the current foreign policy that the U. S. does not recognize Israeli sovereignty of that city. That's been the policy of the U. S. since 1948. The issue is separate of powers. Reporter's note: This is one where the Executive Branch gets the nod. Foreign policy and the crafting of the nation's positions in this area are clearly given to that branch of our government by the Constitution.
Actress Angie Harmon, currently starring in TNT's "Rizzoli and Isles" and her husband, retired NFL player Jason Sehorn have separated after 13 years of marriage. They married in 2001 after a very public marriage proposal in 1998 as Ms Harmon was a guest on "The Tonight Show." Reporter's note: It was sad to watch video of that proposal. They seemed so much in love.
Tennis star Caroline Wozniacki took up a different sport for one day. She entered and finished the New York City Marathon, in a time well ahead of her goal. She ran the 26.2 mile course in just under 3 hours and 27 minutes. Reporter's note: Kudos to her. Finishing a marathon is not easy.
Actress Emma Watson of "Harry Potter" fame was the recipient of the Britannia Award and her acceptance speech was a bit odd:
Reporter's note: I've had hamsters before, and even mourned their passing. Not sure I'd dedicate an award like that to a hamster myself, but if it makes her happy, whatever.
Your faithful reporter managed to make it to the polling place today, in spite of having spent two hours being tortured at the dentist's office (had to have a crown). The anesthetic is just now wearing off another three hours later and the pain is more than expected.
In India, a man has confessed to torturing and then killing the man who had raped his daughter. He reportedly used heated tongs to burn the rapist's private parts before strangling him. Reporter's note: While I can't get behind vigilante justice, I can understand why a father would be moved to do something like this.
Early indications are that the turnout at the polls today will be light, as predicted. One poll shows that only four in ten Americans have given thought to voting and less than 58% of those polled say they will definitely be voting today. Reporter's note: Political apathy seems to favor Republican candidates.
Data released by state officials shows that in September, the residents of Beverly Hills used nearly six times as much water per capita than do those residents who live in East Los Angeles. 286 gallons per person per day in Beverly Hills versus 48 gallons per person per day in East L. A. Reporter's note: Many more swimming pools and neatly maintained grass lawns in BH explains this very easily. I bet the usage of bottled water is also much higher in more affluent areas.
* * *
Halle Berry is trying to reduce the child support she pays to the father of her child. She supposedly says, "There is no case, no law, no logic that says a healthy, active man gets to simply live off child support that the wealthier mother earns." Reporter's note: Most of the single mothers I've known in my life didn't get nearly enough support from the fathers of their kids. However, that didn't stop the single moms of very well-to-do fathers from enjoying a nice lifestyle while receiving child support. Ms Berry is nowhere near as wealthy as Kirk Kerkorian but he was paying $100,000 per month in child support to a woman who admitted he wasn't the real father. Kerkorian's ex-wife is a former tennis pro who once reached the top ten in rankings. She's "only" 50 and fits the definition of "...healthy, active..." Charlie Sheen pays Brooke Mueller $55,000 per month and she's perfectly capable of working when she isn't busy snorting cocaine. Denise Richards makes good money and still pockets $50,000 per month of Charlie's money for child support. That's why I don't have much sympathy for Ms Berry. If it was good enough for decades for wealthy men to be milked for child support, sauce for the gander is sauce for the goose. The bottom line is, if you want to avoid any possibility of paying child support, use an infallible method of birth control.
Brittany Maynard, whose decision to end her own life to avoid the ravages of an inoperable brain tumor that would kill in a few months, has died. She took her own life on Saturday night as scheduled, after having released a statement that she wasn't sure she was ready to go. Ms Maynard had moved to Oregon with her husband to take advantage of that state's Death With Dignity law. Reporter's note: Every state should have such a law, with provisions requiring that medical professionals ensure that the individual's condition is irreversible and either terminal or involves such agony as to remove any possible quality of life.
Then there is the story of Lauryn Hill. The 19 year old also has an inoperable brain tumor and her doctors do not expect her to survive to the end of this year. Now she has realized her dream of playing college basketball. It took NCAA permission to move up the opening home game of her Mount St. Joseph College team. Then her team ran a special play designed to give her a layup opportunity and she sank it. Reporter's note: A heartwarming example of someone facing the end of their life with a positive attitude and trying to do something to prevent others from becoming ill with the same type of tumor.
With the approach of Tuesday's elections, training for those who will be working the polls was conducted in Los Angeles County on Sunday. Reporter's note: The people who work at the polls are a vital cog in the election process. Their thankless work deserves more respect, and voters at the polls should not berate or belittle these paid volunteers.
The United States Supreme Court will hear arguments on Monday in a case that seems surprisingly silly. A 12 year old named Menachem Zivotofsky wants his U. S. passport to state that his place of birth is Jerusalem, Israel. There is a U. S. law that mandates his request should be granted by the State Department, which runs counter to the current foreign policy that the U. S. does not recognize Israeli sovereignty of that city. That's been the policy of the U. S. since 1948. The issue is separate of powers. Reporter's note: This is one where the Executive Branch gets the nod. Foreign policy and the crafting of the nation's positions in this area are clearly given to that branch of our government by the Constitution.
Actress Angie Harmon, currently starring in TNT's "Rizzoli and Isles" and her husband, retired NFL player Jason Sehorn have separated after 13 years of marriage. They married in 2001 after a very public marriage proposal in 1998 as Ms Harmon was a guest on "The Tonight Show." Reporter's note: It was sad to watch video of that proposal. They seemed so much in love.
Tennis star Caroline Wozniacki took up a different sport for one day. She entered and finished the New York City Marathon, in a time well ahead of her goal. She ran the 26.2 mile course in just under 3 hours and 27 minutes. Reporter's note: Kudos to her. Finishing a marathon is not easy.
Actress Emma Watson of "Harry Potter" fame was the recipient of the Britannia Award and her acceptance speech was a bit odd:
Reporter's note: I've had hamsters before, and even mourned their passing. Not sure I'd dedicate an award like that to a hamster myself, but if it makes her happy, whatever.
Your faithful reporter managed to make it to the polling place today, in spite of having spent two hours being tortured at the dentist's office (had to have a crown). The anesthetic is just now wearing off another three hours later and the pain is more than expected.
In India, a man has confessed to torturing and then killing the man who had raped his daughter. He reportedly used heated tongs to burn the rapist's private parts before strangling him. Reporter's note: While I can't get behind vigilante justice, I can understand why a father would be moved to do something like this.
Early indications are that the turnout at the polls today will be light, as predicted. One poll shows that only four in ten Americans have given thought to voting and less than 58% of those polled say they will definitely be voting today. Reporter's note: Political apathy seems to favor Republican candidates.
Data released by state officials shows that in September, the residents of Beverly Hills used nearly six times as much water per capita than do those residents who live in East Los Angeles. 286 gallons per person per day in Beverly Hills versus 48 gallons per person per day in East L. A. Reporter's note: Many more swimming pools and neatly maintained grass lawns in BH explains this very easily. I bet the usage of bottled water is also much higher in more affluent areas.
posted by me at 5:35 PM
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